Greuther Fürth has a new coach, but continues to struggle in the 2nd Bundesliga. A hard penalty decision helped 1. FC Heidenheim.
1. FC Heidenheim won the second division game against SpVgg Greuter Fürth 3-1 (2-0) on Sunday (October 23, 2022). Patrick Mainka (9th minute) gave FCH an early lead, Tim Kleindienst (33rd) increased. Branimir Hrgota (52′) scored for Fürth before Jan-Niklas Beste (56′) restored the old lead thanks to a controversial hand penalty.
The defeat slipped the Franks down to last place in the table. Heidenheim is fourth and within striking distance of the promotion places.
Zorniger becomes the new SpVgg trainer
After only 106 days in office, the Fürth club bosses released coach Marc Schneider due to continued lack of success. After the game, the club announced that Alexander Zorniger would succeed him.
He sat as a spectator in the stadium and received a contract until the summer of 2024. In Heidenheim, assistant coaches Rainer Widmayer and Stefan Kleineheismann looked after the team of the Bundesliga relegated team.
Fürth swims at corners
Even without Schneider, nothing changed for the better. The defensive problems of the “cloverleaf”, especially after corners, caught the eye again, especially in the first round. After such a shot by Beste, Heidenheim took the lead early on, and Mainka headed into the far post unchallenged. Even then there was red alert after corners in the Fürth penalty area.
Again after a Beste corner, the ball came to Jonas Föhrenbach (23rd), whose volley deflected Ragnar Ache to the next corner. In this case, SpVgg goalkeeper Leon Schaffran missed the ball, Tim Siersleben’s header cleared Damian Michalski (24th) on the line.
Goal chance becomes a boomerang
Fürth finally sent a sign of life in the 32nd minute, but Ache failed to get the ball in the goal in two attempts from close range. That took revenge immediately. In return, Kleindienst initially failed because of Fürth’s goalkeeper Schaffran.
The Heidenheim attacker used the second attempt after Schaffran had not punched the ball away properly. However, he didn’t get any support either, the entire Fürth defense seemed like extras when the goal was scored.
Hand penalty a tough decision
After the restart, the “clover leaf” first drew new hope. After a throw-in and a double header extension, the free-standing Hrgota brought his team apparently back in the game. However, the joy was short-lived.
After a Beste free-kick, the ball bounced from Tobias Raschl’s body to his arm. Referee Robin Braun gave a hand penalty, a tough decision. Best converted the penalty placed on the bottom right.
As a result, Fürth tried to catch up again. The Franconians did not let themselves be left hanging. Ache (66′) put a long-range shot just wide of the goal, Substitute Armindo Sieb (85′) only hit the crossbar from 16 meters out. In the end, Heidenheim, who acted too passively in the final phase, brought victory home.
Heidenheim and Fürth demanded directly at the start
At the beginning of the 14th match day, Greuther Fürth welcomes Arminia from Bielefeld (Friday, October 28th, 2022 at 6.30 p.m.). At the same time, Heidenheim is playing in Magdeburg.